Melissa Walters, Associate Vice President, Engineering (for Civil Construction) at Trimble

Melissa Walters was inspired to work for Trimble by her Aunt Linda, who loved working there.

“For more than 40 years, she was a passionate advocate for the company, and her dedication and loyalty truly showed me what a great place Trimble was to work,” Walters said. 

Walters’ first job at Trimble was on the assembly line during a college summer break. She worked a few years at Boeing before returning to Trimble. “I have since focused on working on teams that develop products that drive significant efficiency gains in the construction industry,” said Walters. “My passion for the work is also a family interest, with my daughters growing up identifying machine types, manufacturers and telling me what was happening on the jobsite while I was driving.”

Walters’ passion for construction has continued to grow throughout her career. “The more I am exposed to it, the more I love it,” she added. “Someone said to me at the Trimble Dimensions off-site that I am truly in my element. It is so fun to see all the different innovative solutions in one location with our customers and dealers having an opportunity to give us feedback and help us make our solutions even better.”

Walters’ youngest daughter is currently studying engineering. She just attended a career fair and observed that “all of the fun jobs are in construction.”

Walters noted that the construction industry is vast and requires a wide range of skills. “With advancements in technology, there is an increasing need for diverse talent, from project managers to engineers to equipment operators to job quoting, improving the workflow and designers. There are countless ways for women to contribute to help transform the way the world works.”

In supporting women in the workforce, Walters advises industry leaders to establish a formal mentorship program for all early-career employees, ensuring mentors are genuinely invested in an individual’s growth. “When assigning work, clearly define the mission and the ‘why’ so employees understand how their specific tasks contribute to the bigger picture and the impact their work has on others,” she said. 

“Allow them to take ownership of their work while having a nonjudgmental mentor or manager to go to with questions. Additionally, provide training that gives them a big-picture view of construction projects, industry or their area of focus, which helps them better understand their role and how it connects to the rest of the team’s efforts.”

The more employees know about how they impact the rest of the team, the more they will drive to ensure their part is on time with high quality, Walters pointed out. “Truly, I have had wonderful mentors throughout my career, both male and female,” she added.

Walters loves helping everyone accomplish something that they never thought they could. 

“To grow the next generation of women in construction, we need mentorship that does two simple things. First, it must actively find each woman’s unique talents and hidden strengths. Second, it must match them with real projects where they can actually use and improve those skills. This practical approach is the best way to help them build confidence, advance their careers and become the industry’s future leaders.”